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My apologies---especially if, at the late hour, I responded too harshly to your note

Alex said this: "There's a difference between thinking of attacking and realising attacking options. One contains intent the other doesn't." I was hoping to go a little deeper on this point.

In the sense of "If you're tired, sleep, and if you're hungry, eat," then, sure, "If you need to think, then think"---as long as you're consciously engaged. If that is what Alex meant by "intent," then I like it: He's consciously switched from the activity of standing in line waiting for coffee to the activity of considering attack options.

On the other hand (pun recognized but not intended ), if by "realising" (citing the word, not the spelling---I saw Great Britain's flag by his name) he means he finds himself thinking of attack options while he was previously waiting in line---an unconscious drift into thought---then I'd say the center is lost.

Not sure I made the distinction well here, but it's a start... In essence, if you're lost in thought, then you're lost in thought---whatever the flavor of the thought.

Through training, you first become very conscious and aware of the aspects of what you're training---there's thought. With more (and more and more) training, the aspects move out thought deeper into mind/body. This goes for sizing up a room too---realizing attack and defense options. Practice it enough and it becomes a subconscious activity---no thought; the options are available to you (realized) without the need to think about them.

My apologies---especially if, at the late hour, I responded too harshly to your note

Through training, you first become very conscious and aware of the aspects of what you're training---there's thought. With more (and more and more) training, the aspects move out thought deeper into mind/body. This goes for sizing up a room too---realizing attack and defense options. Practice it enough and it becomes a subconscious activity---no thought; the options are available to you (realized) without the need to think about them.

Now that it's really me: With more and more training it moves into independent experience, connected, magnetic, and creative. The future is unwritten until we write it in our hearts. No action/reaction. Simply kokyu/rokyu, shobu-aiki.

Jennifer, how many times do I have to tell you that these donuts are exceptional martial artists? they have not only internal skills, they also have ninja skills. they have the ability to disappear before your very eyes. they are evil. they are the Weapon of Mass Distribution. Had Ueshiba or Takeda alive, they might not prevail. therefore, you must practice zanshin, mushin, and importantly donutshin when you enter such places. Heed my warning or we will miss you at practice.

Jennifer, how many times do I have to tell you that these donuts are exceptional martial artists? they have not only internal skills, they also have ninja skills. they have the ability to disappear before your very eyes. they are evil. they are the Weapon of Mass Distribution. Had Ueshiba or Takeda alive, they might not prevail. therefore, you must practice zanshin, mushin, and importantly donutshin when you enter such places. Heed my warning or we will miss you at practice.

Nope, If I enter a doughnut shop, I have completly lost my center. My "internal sensei" has been bound, duct-taped, and locked in a closet. Her shocked "you're not REALLY going to EAT that?" carefully deleted from the record.

For the record, Mongo is right; apple fritters rule. But one should also consider the virtues of the custard-filled, chocolate-iced variety.